Vehicle-spring



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R E I R G W W Vehicle Spring.

No. 242,196. Patented May 31,1881.

lnhlrlessms, g 45M 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

' W. W. GRIER.

Vehicle Spring. No. 242,196. I Patented May 31,1881.

. &

Mdqassesl'qverflnmgm am 7/7514 OZ; 61M. M W

plates, f and f,

h. The plates f" and f? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. GRIER, OF HULTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,196, dated May 31,1881. Application filed April 30, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. GRIER, ofHulton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful'Improvement in Vehicles; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partlyin section, of the fifth-wheel and the front springs of a vehicle of myimproved construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same.Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the fifth-wheel. Figs. 4 and 5 are plan viewsof the front and rear axles and springs, respectively; and Fig. 6 is aside view of the pillowblock and spring.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

The springs a are each composed of a flat plate or plates, preferably ofeven thickness throughout its length, having a straight orslightly-curved inner side, a, which when the spring is in position isparallel,or nearly so, to the axle b, and an outer side, M, which istapered from the middle to the ends, so that it is wide at the middleand narrow at the ends. They are preferably cutout of sheet-steel 5 butthey may be hammered or rolled out, if preferred. They are then bent tothe curve shown in Fig. l or to any other desired curve. They areattached to pivoted shackles a, one at'each side of the axle b, withthin straight sides a next and parallel, or nearly'so, to the axle. The

shackles c are fastened to the axlesnear to the collars d, and arepivoted to the axles by clips 0 extending around them.

The fifth-wheel f is composed of two bolsterone of which, f, is boltedto the upper frame, 9, of the fifth-wheel, and the other, f by diagonalarms f to the outer edges of the springs a. They are further fastened tothe springs by braces h, extendingdown- Ward to theinner edges of thesprings, and fastened to the springs and to the arms by bolts aresecured together by the king-bolt z and nut k.

Bolted to the diagonal arms f, at or near their shoulders, are twoplates, 1, extending in opposite directions. The outer end of each plateI is bent over and turned back parallel to the plate, as at I, so as toform a yoke, 1 around the circles or rings in of the fifth-wheel. Abifurcated block, 0, of wood or other elastic material, is insertedbetween the plate l and itsleaf l, with its ends against the rings m. Abolt, p, extends up from the spring a through the plate land its leaf 1and through the slot 0 of the block 0, and is secured by nuts 12 and pBy screwing down the nut p the leaf Z clamps down on the rings m andtakes up any slack that may occur from wear, the block 0 yieldingsufliciently for that purpose. A pillowblock, q, of wood, is insertedbetween the plate I and the outer edge of the spring a, which block istraversed by the bolt p, Fig. 3.

This construction, raising the fifth wheel above the axle and thesprings, permits the latter in their downward vibration to clear andpass the axle b, which, as is apparent in Fig. 2, will pass between andabove the springs a a considerable distance before it encounters the endof the king-bolt or the under part of the fifth-wheel. The arms f 3 withthe plate f constitute an arched truss which is light and strong.

A similar construction may be used in attaching the body to the springsat the rear axle, excepting that no fifth wheel is used there, a flatplate being substituted for the plate f The operation of the springsmade and applied in this way is extremely easy, not only givinga finespring action, butguardingagainst or easing the sudden jerks or reboundsof the springs, so objectionable in many vehicles, and in some worsethan the total absence of sprin gs. I attribute this feature to the widebearing of the body on the springs, their taper form and longer arch,the use of the arched truss enabling me to lengthen their curve.Especial advantage is perceived when the wheel strikes a stone or isstopped suddenly, as then the jar is much less than in the formerconstructions of this kind of vehicle.

As heretofore made, vehicles of this kind had a bar or block of woodextending across the axle from spring to spring between the bolts 1),being Inortised into the blocks q at its ends. This bar being fastenedto the springs prevented their vibration past and below the axle. Idispense with it by my improved construction, which permits thevibration of the springs below a horizontal plane hisecting the spindlesof the axle. The form and degree of the arch of the truss may be variedat will. The bolster-plates may be castings or drop-forgings.

A vehicle of my improved construction is not only easy in riding, butvery strong and durable, not being racked or jarred to pieces by the toosevere straining of the load on the gear. The longitudinal thrust of thebody upon the springs when suddenly stopped does not strain or distortthe latter as when narrow plates are used, but is taken up by atorsional action of the wide springs. These springs may be made up ofseveral plates, which, however, are preferably of uniform \vidth.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. lhc combination of'a vehicle-a x1e and two lateral springs arrangedparallel thereto, or nearly so, said springs being wide in the mid dle,narrow at the ends, and fastened to the axles by pivoted shackles ateach end, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, in a vehicle having lateral springs extending onboth sides of and fastened to the axle, of an arched truss connected tothe springs and sustaining the fifthwheel, and yokes fastened to thearms of the truss and extending around the circle-plates of thefifth-wheel, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the axle, a lateral spring arranged on each sidethereof and suspended thereto, and an arched truss for sustaining thebody fastened to the springs, so as to permit the springs to vibratebelow the axle, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM W. GRIER.

Witnesses:

T. B. KERR, JAMES II. Pon'rn.

